Process of heating water.



R. R. FOSTER.

PROCESS OF HEATING WATER. APPLIOATIION FILED kULY 30,1912.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

COLUMBM PLANOGRAPH CO-.WASI1INGTON.D.C.

ROY RALEIGH FOSTER, OF COLTON, CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS OF HEATING WATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5,1913.

Application filed July 30, 1912. Serial No. 712,353.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY RALEIGH FOSTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Co-lton, in the county of San Bernardino and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Process of Heating WVater, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heating water by means of electric current,and the main object of the invention is to provide for heat ing thewater in an economical and effective manner, while the water is flowing,to the desired temperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide for heating the waterwithout necessitating passage of heat through conducting walls orplates.

Another object of the invention is to provide for heating the water,while in an open or exposed condition and while traveling under theaction of gravity in counter-distinction to water heating methods whichinvolve the flow of water through pipes under pressure.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one form of apparatus suitable forcarrying out the invention.

The apparatus comprises a box or case 1 of any suitable material, a panor plate 2 in said box or case, adapted to receive water, and means suchas a supply pipe 3, provided with a valve 4- for supplying water to saidpan or plate, outlet means such as a pipe 5 for the water, and anelectric heating element 6 located in the box or case above the waterreceiving member, so as to heat the water by direct radiation from theheating element. Said heating element may consist of a wire wound on asupport 6, said wire being connected by Wire 7 to terminals 8, 9 of asupply circuit.

The process is carried out in the above described apparatus as follows:Nater is supplied to the water receiving member 2 by means of the pipe 3and is drawn off through pipe i, so that the water passes in acontinuous stream over said water receiving member, the upper face ofsaid water being exposed and the water passing through the apparatus bythe operation of gravity without the use of pressure. While the water isso passing, current is turned on through the heating element 6 and theheat from said element is radiated onto the water below the same andbeing taken up by the water, causes the water to be heated in itspassage over the water receiving member.

The process is instantaneous, that is, while the water is being drawnfor use, it is heated so quickly that it is drawn hot from the pipe.While it is exposed to the electric heat it is spread out over a largearea in a thin film, which has the advantage of presenting a large watersurface which quickly absorbs the heat.

What I claim is:

1. The process of heating water which consists in flowing the water in alayer over a supporting surface, with no obstructions between the waterand heating means and causing heat to be radiated downward through theintervening air onto said layer of water from above the same.

2. The process of heating water which consists in flowing the water in alayer on a supporting surface, with no obstructions between the waterand heating means generating heat in a body above said layer of waterand causing the heat from said body to be radiated through theintervening air onto said layer of water.

3. The process of heating water which consists in causing the water toflow by gravity in an exposed thin layer over a supporting surface, withno obstruct-ions between the water and heating means and causing heat tobe radiated from above through the intervening air onto said layer ofwater.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Colton, California,this 23rd day of July, 1912.

ROY RALEIGH FOSTER.

In presence of C. W. CURTIS, B. F. TANNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

